Squid Game shooting for Flemington win after impressive debut

It may have broken Netflix records, but the only Squid Game trainer Patrick Payne has any interest watching is the one racing at Flemington on Saturday.

Squid Game winning nicely on debut at Sandown Lakeside. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Squid Game has been watched by 140 million worldwide to become Netflix’s most-viewed show of all time.

Patrick Payne is not one of these people.

Nor will he be.

The only Squid Game the horseman cares to watch on television is the one at Flemington on Saturday.

“He’s always shown us a hell of a lot of ability,” Payne said of the aptly-named Shooting To Win gelding.

“I think he’ll run fantastic.”

Squid Game was in line to be sold to Hong Kong before an issue derailed the Price Bloodstock transaction.

But an impressive debut win at Sandown Lakeside last month and potential to remain undefeated, having struck a suitable race at Flemington, has excited Payne and Hong Kong-based Melburnian David Price.

Their appetite for Squid Game, the series, differs greatly.

“Someone explained it to me,” Payne said.

“I actually think I wouldn’t like it.

“It’s a bit of an acquired taste, I think some people like it and some people hate it.

“I’ve got no ambition to watch it, tell you the truth.”

Netflix TV series Squid Game has been a global phenomenon.

Expat Price certainly had the ambition to re-register Squid Game as the survival drama-hype exploded.

“It was called something else but he thought hang on, that name (Squid Game) fits better after the series so he was really keen to get it,” Payne said.

Squid Game is a firm $2.70 with TAB in race 2 – a three-year-old 1200m Benchmark 70.

Payne will be well-represented at Flemington, with six starters including unbeaten Sixbysixtythree, who recovered quickly from a hoof abscess which ruled him out last Saturday.

“I would’ve loved to run last Saturday, it looked a lot more achievable (race),” Payne said.

“He’s a pretty promising horse I think, we’ll get a good guide on where he is after Saturday.”

Sixbysixtythree absorbed a fast speed at Pakenham last start to pick up and win softly at the finish.

“I thought (last start) this will test a young horse but he was really good the last 100m,” Payne said.

“I actually had full respect for him after that race.”

Meanwhile, Payne is keen to see Double You Tee – a $19 chance in race 3 – find form after being put over jumps recently to switch him on.

“He’s an older horse that hasn’t won for a while, he might’ve got into a bit of a habit just following them around,” Payne said.

“He’ll be huge odds, a good place bet I reckon.”

Originally published as Squid Game shooting for Flemington win after impressive debut